Apparatus for and method of making building blocks



A. G. HATCH.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKNG BUILDING BLOCKS. APPLICATION FILEDJAN. 14, I921.

l 3'7 054 Patented Nov. 28, 1922,

.Methods of Making- Patented Nov. 28, 1922, V I

ARTHUR G.

HATCH, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD MAKING BUILDING BLOCKS.

Application filed January 14, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. HATCH, a citizen of the United Duluth, inthe county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Apparatus for and Building Blocks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new proved method for making building block,and more particularly to a method for easting and removing the blocksfrom the mold in an eflicient manner.

In casting concrete blocks in largequantities it is highly desirablethat the block and form be so related that the block may be easilyremoved from the form without difficulty and without block even if it iscomparatively green. The rapidity of operation is much increased if theblock may be removed relatively green, since the time each lot requiresthe use of the molds is thus reduced.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus formaking building blocks and system of using that apparatus which willefliciently and rapidly produce blocks.

It is a further object to provide a continuous multiple block mold soconstructed that blocks may be readily removed therefrom.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention. in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a moldlayout with the concrete delivery car and track;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of Figure 1 taken on line 2-2 ofFigure 1; V

Figure 3 is a view partly in section illustrating the method of removingthe blocks from the mold; and

Figure 4- is a section taken on line 4l-1 of Figure 1.

In the drawings the trackway 5 is located between two long mold boxes 6and is adapted to carry the mortar delivery car 7 having the lateralchutes 8. The mold boxes are provided with the spaced arcuatedepressions 9 each having a groove in its base to receive the divisionplates 10. The molds 6 are supported by cross members 11 located underthe depressed portions 9. The supporting members 11 are cut away at 12un- States residing at and imdanger of damage to the Serial No. 437,273.

der these depressed portions. The arcuate portions 9 are formed upon acurve such that the center of curvature is located substantially at thepoint 1.3 or the junction of the end and top faces of the blocks.

In the use of the block casting apparatus shown, the car '7 is filledwith mortar, the division plates 10 are located in the mold boxes 6 andthe various mold sections are filled from the car 7 through the chutes8, the upper surfaces of the blocks 14 being smoothed off. Steam isintroduced under the lower surface of the molds passing from section tosection through the passages 12 in the supporting members 11. The steamgreatly facilitates the hardening of the blocks.

lVhen the blocks have properly hardened they are removed in order fromone end as -ndicated in Figure '3. The division plate is first removedand the block 14.- is then swung upwardly about its end which isadjacent the next division plate 10. The curve of the portion 9 of theblock permits the block to be rotated about the point 13 and thus to beeasily removable from the' mold without danger of injury to the blockflanges, even though the block may be still somewhat green. It 1simpossible to remove a rectangular block in this manner as the edgeequiv alent to the edge13 of the present block wouldbe spalled off aswould also the lower edge below it. It is impossible to safely re move agreen rectangular block in this manner and even more impossible tosimilarly remove a block having downwardly extending flanges of anyshape other than that of applicants since the flanges would obviously bebroken away at their point of junction with the block.

This particular construction of molds may be added to by having aplurality of molds or of mold boxes 6, one on each side of the track,the chutes 8 upon the car being lengthened as necessary.

The particular formation of the mold and of the end flanges of theblocks greatly facilitates removal of the blocks without danger to theflanges and permits them to be removed more readily and easily thanwould be the case were the flanges of any other de sign than that shown.

claim:

1. The method of making building blocks which comprises placing divisionplates at predetermined intervals in molds capable of holding aplurality of blocks, pouring block-forming materials in the plasticstate into the spaces between division plates until said spaces arefilled, and, after the material has hardened, progressively removing thedivision plates and building blocks, alternately removing a divisionplate and then the adjacent block, the block being removed by swingingits free end upwardly, the contour of the block permitting such swingingwithout damagin thrust between the next division plate and the adjacentface of the block 2'. The method of making building blocks whichcomprises placing division plates at predetermined intervals in moldscapable of holding a plurality of blocks, pouring blockforniingmaterials in the plastic state into the spaces between division platesuntil said spaces are filled, and, after the material has hardened,progressively removing a division plate and then the adjacent block, theblock being removed by swinging its free end upwardly about its oppositeupper corner, the corner pivoting against the adjacent division platethe contour of the block permitting such swinging without damagingthrust between the next division plate and the adjacent face of theblock.

8. The method of making building blocks which comprises placing divisionplates at predetermined intervals in molds capable of holding aplurality of blocks, pouring blockforming materials in the plastic stateinto the spaces between division plates until said spaces are filled,and, after the material has hardened, progressively removing a divisionplate and then the adjacent block, the block being removed by swingingits free end upwardly about its opposite upper corner, the cornerpivoting against the adjacent division plate, the lower portion of: theend of the block being arcuate in form and making sliding contact withthe adjacent surface of the mold during its swinging movement.

4:. Apparatus for making building blocks comprising a multiple blockmold having a plurality of transverse depressions therein, and divisionplates removably fitting in the mold in said depressions, the moldhaving transverse grooves in the base oi the depressions to receive thedivision plates.

5. Apparatus for making building blocks comprising a multiple block moldhaving a plurality of transverse depressions therein, the depressionsbeing a rcuate in longitudinal section, and division plates reniomblyfitting in the mold in said depressions.

6. Apparatus for making building blocks comprising a multiple block moldhaving a plurality of transverse depressions therein, and supports forthe mold located adjacent the lower face of the depressions.

7. Apparatus for making building blocks comprising a multiple block moldhaving a plurality of transverse depressions therein, and supports forthe mold located adjacent the lower face of the depressions, thesupports having depressions in the top thereof adapted to permit thepassage of steam.

8. Apparatus for making building blocks comprising a multiple block moldhaving a plurality of depressions therein, and a passage adjacent thelower face of the mold adapted to admit steam, the passage beingrestricted adjacent the depressions in the mold.

Signed at Duluth, Minnesota, this 6th day of January, 1921.

ARTHUR G. HATCH.

